ABACUS—Introduction to Semiconductor Devices

When we hear the term semiconductor device, we may think first of the transistors in PCs or video game consoles, but transistors are the basic component in all of the electronic devices we use in our daily lives. Electronic systems are built from such components as transistors, capacitors, wires, light-emitting diodes and semiconductor lasers. These components are typically integrated into a single chip made of a semiconductor material.

Advanced courses go more deeply into semiconductor theory, device physics, fabrication processes, as well as advanced and special purpose devices, such as heterostructure devices, power devices, and optoelectronic devices.

This nanoHUB “topic page” provides an easy access to selected nanoHUB educational material on semiconductor devices that is openly accessible.

We invite users to participate in this open source, interactive educational initiative:

Contribute content by uploading it to the nanoHUB. (See “Upload your own content”) on the nanoHUB mainpage.

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Band Models / Band Structure

This tool computes the transmission and the reflection coefficient of a five, seven, nine, eleven and 2n-segment piecewise constant potential energy profile. It enables the rapid visualization of the formation of band structures in a finite superlattice.

Exercises that illustrate the importance of quantum-mechanical reflections in state-of-the-art devices and the resonance width dependence upon the geometry in the double-barrier structure that is integral part of resonant tunneling diodes are given below:

The Periodic Potential Lab in ABACUS solves the time independent Schrödinger Equation in a one-dimentional spatial potential variation. Rectangular, triangular, parabolic (harmonic), and Coulomb potential confinements can be considered. The user can determine energetic and spatial details of the potential profiles, compute the allowed and forbidden bands, plot the bands in a compact and an expanded zone, and compare the results against a simple effective-mass parabolic band. Transmission is also calculated through the well for the given energy range.

The Band Structure Lab in ABACUS enables the study of bulk dispersion relationships of silicon, gallium arsenide, and indium arsenide. The users can apply tensile and compressive strain and observe the variation in the band structure, bandgaps, and effective masses. Advanced users can study band structure effects in ultra-scaled (thin body) quantum wells, and nanowires of different cross sections. Band Structure Lab uses the sp3s*d5 tight-binding method to compute E(k) for bulk, planar, and nanowire semiconductors.

Bulk Semiconductors

The Carrier Statistics Lab in ABACUS demonstrates electron and hole-density distributions based on the Fermi-Dirac and Maxwell-Boltzmann equations. This tool shows the dependence of carrier density, density of states and occupation factor on temperature and fermi level. The user can choose between doped and undoped semi-conductors. silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide can be studied as a function of doping or Fermi level, and temperature. The Carrier Statistics Lab is supported by a homework assignment in which students are asked to explore the differences between Fermi-Dirac and Maxwell-Boltzmann distributions, compute electron and hole concentrations, study temperature dependences, and the phenomenon of freeze-out.

The Drift Diffusion Lab in ABACUS enables users to understand the basic concepts of the drift and diffusion of carriers inside a semiconductor slab using different kinds of experiments. Experiments like shining light onto the semiconductor, applying bias, as well as both processes simultaneously, can be performed. This tool provides important information about carrier densities, transient and steady state currents, Fermi-levels and electrostatic potentials. It is supported by two related homework assignments #1 and #2 in which students are asked to explore the concepts of drift, diffusion, quasi Fermi-levels, and the response to light.

Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJT)

The Bipolar Junction Lab in ABACUS allows Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) simulation using a 2D mesh. It allows users to simulate either the npn- or pnp-type of device. Users can specify the emitter, base and collector region depths and doping densities. Also the material and minority-carrier lifetimes can be specified by the user. The tool is supported by a homework assignment in which students are asked to find the emitter efficiency, the base transport factor, current gains, and the Early voltage. Also, students are requested to provide a qualitative discussion.

MOS Capacitors

The MOScap Tool in ABACUS enables a semi-classical analysis of metal-oxide-semionductor (MOS) capacitors. It simulates the capacitance of bulk- and dual-gate capacitors for a variety of different device sizes, geometries, temperature, and doping profiles.

MOSFETs

The MOSfet Lab in ABACUS tool enables a semi-classical analysis of current-voltage (I/V) characteristics for bulk and SOI Field-Effect Transistors (FETs) for a variety of different device sizes, geometries, temperature, and doping profiles.

About ABACUS Constituent Tools

The Assembly of Basic Applications for Coordinated Understanding of Semiconductors (ABACUS) has been put together from individual tools to provide educators and students with a one-stop-shop in semiconductor education. It therefore benefits tremendously from the hard work that the contributors of the individual tool builders have put into their tools.

As a matter of credit, simulation runs that are performed in the ABACUS tool are also credited to the individual tools, which help the ranking of the individual tools. We do also count the number of usages of the individual tools in the ABACUS tool set, to measure the ABACUS impact and possibly also improve the tool.

In the description above, we do not refer to the individual tools since we want to guide the users to the composite ABACUS tool. We cite the individual tools here explicitly so they are being given the appropriate credit and on their respective tool pages are being linked to this ABACUS topic page.

Additional Reading and Tools

Solar Cells

ADEPT is not supported within ABACUS because it is a research-oriented tool that enables the study of solar cells for various material systems. A Reference Manual and a ADEPT Heterostructure Tutorial are available. The interface is not a simple point-and-click interface, as for example the PN junction lab, but simulation commands are entered via a command line.

MOS Capacitors with Quantum Corrections

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Schred is not formally supported in ABACUS. It contains more advanced quantum mechanical concepts and is a nanoHUB contributed tool. It calculates the envelope wavefunctions and the corresponding bound-state energies in a typical metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) or semiconductor-oxide-semiconductor (SOS) structure and a typical SOI structure by solving self-consistently the one-dimensional (1D) Poisson equation and the 1D Schrödinger equation.

madFETs—more Field Effect Transistors

The Field-Effect Transistor has been proposed and implemented in many physical systems, materials, and geometries. A multitude of acronyms have developed around these concepts. The “Many-Acronym-Device-FET” (madFET) was born. The author of this document was able to trace an attribute to the acronym madFET from Bill Frensley to Herbert Kroemer.

nanoHUB.org hosts a variety of tools that enable the simulation of field effect transisors for a variety of different geometries in a variety of different levels of approximations. There is a madFETs topics page that provides an overview of many of the nanoHUB.org madFET tools.

Technology Computer Aided Design—TCAD

Once students have mastered the basics of semiconductors they may be quite interested in venturing into TCAD. There is a topics page for aTCADlab and associated single aTCADlab tool that assembles various TCAD tools available on the nanoHUB. Process, device, and circuit simulation is represented in aTCADlab.